Plans for a Veterans Memorial Park to be built in Blanding

by Sally Jack
Contributing writer
Tony Wojcik, commander of American Legion Post 97 in Blanding, is pleased to announce that the Post is in the planning stages of the construction of a Veterans Memorial Park.
The park will be built on the island next to Highway 191 near the Visitor’s Center in Blanding.
Once the park is completed, visitors may enjoy wandering the park while their vehicles are charging, or stop by as a part of their visit to the visitor’s center.
Post 97 has some seed money to begin the project with, and they are hoping to match it with in-kind donations of labor and materials.
Paid projects will be provided by local contractors, businesses, and craftsmen as much as possible in order to keep the money in the community.
Subject to UDOT approval, Blanding City has agreed to expand the park area by ten feet to make more room for the memorial, with a possible closure of one adjacent road which has proven through the years to be something of a traffic hazard.
The memorial will honor each branch of the United States Armed Forces with a circle of six pillars.
The service motto and branch insignia of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force will each be depicted on a pillar. A representation of a kiva will be placed inside the circle of pillars with an American flag in the center of the kiva.
The flag will be illuminated at night, possibly using solar energy.
A gold star wall will list the names of the fallen heroes from San Juan County who gave the ultimate sacrifice – their lives – in the service of their country in any of the wars: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the War on Terror.
At last count, 28 fallen veterans from the county have been identified, but that number may change as research continues.
Unfortunately, it’s possible that more will be added to the list as time goes on.
Tony made it very clear that the wall is in no way intended to replace the Toni Turk family tribute to these soldiers in the memorial rotunda just outside the visitor’s center, but rather as an extension to complement their efforts.
The park will be ADA compliant. A plaque, “What is a Veteran?” will be mounted on a big rock in the area.
The clock donated by Harold Lyman, an American Legion member of Post 97, will remain in its current place on the park island. The park will be lighted for night time viewing.
Walking paths, rocks, bushes, and benches will complete the project. It is hoped that the veteran park will be a place of peace, honor, and contemplation.
A portion of the park will include pavers, much like the memorial bricks in place at the Veterans Memorial Park on the corner of Main and Center streets in Monticello.
Individuals may sponsor pavers in honor of loved ones who served in any branch of the military, or may put any other inscription of their choosing (up to 25 characters) on the pavers, which will have a permanent place at the monument.
The pavers can be purchased for $350 each, and will be tax deductible.
The projected date for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the new memorial park is Veterans Day in November of 2025.
Commander Tony Wojcik is excited to see this project to fruition and hopes it will inspire more young people to make a difference by serving their country in the armed forces of the United States of America.
To learn more about the memorial, to purchase a paver, or to keep abreast of the project, look for the Blanding Veterans Memorial Project on the Blanding City website.
The 3-D images included here have been created by graphic artist Alison Ipson.
Blueprints were done by Javen Ivins, an engineer at Jones and DeMille in Monticello.